Chapter Fourteen – Glowing.
"Jace?" Alec whispered from where he was sat in the chair; Jace's attention immediately snapped to his Parabatai. "What is it Alec?" He asked, concern clear in his voice.
"I will take the tablets." Alec sighed, "I don't want to cause you and Izzy any more pain than I have. Max would have wanted it this way too." Jace sighed in relief, catching the bottle as Isabelle tossed it to him with a brief smile of relief, Jace unscrewed the lid and tipped a single blue tablet into Alec's outstretched hand. Alec swallowed it and placed his head back against the back of the chair, "Thanks Jacey." He murmured, his eyes falling shut for a moment before he fell asleep:
He was lying on the grass under the stars, the temperature was hot despite the fact that it was night-time.His dark hair lay curled on the sides of his face, and strands covered his blue eyes. He could hear Jace working away at the piano in the library, he was learning one of the newest melodies he had found that was written by Bach and by the sound of it, he was starting to get frustrated. In his hands was a small tattered manga book, he turned it over and over in his hands. It had belonged to his younger brother Max. It was the book he had taken to Idris with him but now Alec refused to let it out of his sight, he kept it in his pocket everywhere he went, he owed it to Max to look after it. His parents had remained behind in Idris to do their own grieving for him, sending Jace, Isabelle and himself home.
"Alexander?" A familiar voice called, as Magnus laid down in the grass beside him on his side. Alec didn't answer, tears made his eyes sting but they refused to fall no matter how many times he blinked. "It's okay to cry." Magnus whispered, wrapping his arms around Alec's thin body. He was getting thinner every day, and Magnus was starting to worry. Alec turned his head into Magnus's shoulder as the tears finally started to fall. His shoulders shaking and Magnus held him tighter until the tears finally stopped. "Better?" Magnus asked, Alec nodded. "What are you holding?" Magnus asked, gently taking the book from Alec's hands.
"I-It belonged to M-Max." Alec hiccupped, lying his head on Magnus's shoulder, "It was his favourite." Magnus nodded turning through the pages gently, looking at each page in turn, slowly something fluttered out of the back of the book. Magnus caught it and turned it so that it faced them, it was a photograph.
Alec gasped, grasping the photo to stare at his family, how they had all looked ages ago: his parents smiling and happy, Jace holding a shining Seraph blade in his hands sat on the floor beside Alec, Isabelle sat on one side of the leather sofa with Max, who had a book clasped in his hands. They had looked so happy back when the photograph was taken, now look at them. Broken and hurt, Isabelle blamed herself, Jace locked people out and Alec was the family disgrace in his parents' eyes. Tears welled in his eyes and he slipped the photo back into the book and slipped the book into his pocket."Let's get out of here." Magnus said, pulling Alec to his feet. He went without argument, following Magnus back to his apartment. Once the door had shut behind them, Magnus led Alec over to the sofa, he sat him down and summoned a cup of steaming coffee.
"Alexander, it's okay to be upset over the death of your brother but don't let it consume you. He wouldn't have wanted that." Magnus stated, rubbing Alec's upper arm in a soothing manner. "You don't understand! You've never had a brother die! You've no idea what it's like to lose someone you love!" Alec argued the anguish and pain clear in his voice, he let his head drop into his hands, "I'm sorry Magnus. I shouldn't have said that."
"It's okay. You're upset you're allowed to say things and not mean them." Magnus said, hugging Alec tightly. "But let me tell you. You're all I want and even I get scared that I'll lose you at some point in life. I feel I already am." Alec glanced up, shock making his blue eyes shimmer, "You won't. You won't lose me."
"And you won't lose me. Because I'm never going to give up till my heart stops beating and my legs stop kicking." Magnus replied, kissing Alec's lips lightly with a smile.
"I'll follow you anywhere, Alec Lightwood, because I'm in love with you." Magnus grinned, "Wow, am I glowing? I feel like I should be!" Alec laughed, a sound that Magnus adored with all his heart.
"Maybe a teensy bit!" Alec laughed, pinching his thumb and index finger close together, "Although it could just be all that glitter!" Magnus laughed pulling Alec closer to him on the sofa. "Can I tell you something?" Alec asked, glancing up at Magnus.
"Anything."
"I love you too." Alec let his lips brush Magnus's.
"If you're going to stay here, keeping me awake… you might as well make it worth my time." Magnus laughed, pressing his lips, hard, against Alec only letting go for breath. "Sometimes I wish we didn't have to breathe." Magnus murmured.
"Sometimes I think you only love me for my eyes." Alec joked.
"Well, yes there is that. That and your very kissable lips!" Magnus laughed as Alec flushed scarlet.
Together they fell asleep on the sofa as the sun began to slowly rise into the sky. With Magnus's arms around him and the warlock's slow heartbeat pulsing away under his ear, Alec had never felt so loved and so safe than he did now.